Physical Activity: recreational & transportation options

Godfrey XuerebTeam Leader, Population-based Prevention

Department of Chronic Diseases and Health PromotionWorld Health Organization

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

1.5 billion adultsare insufficiently active

Aged 15+; 2008;

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 201160% of global deaths due to NCDs

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Physical inactivity - 4th leading risk factor for global mortality

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Percentage of insufficient physical activity comparable country estimates, 2008

Age standardized; by WHO Region and World Bank income group, men and womenSource: Global Status Report on NCDs, WHO, 2001

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Global response to NCDs

2000

2002

2003

2004

2008

Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of

Non-communicable Diseases

High-level Meeting on NCDs (New York, 19-20 September 2011)

2011

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

"Ensure that physical environments support safe active commuting, and create space for recreational activity"

Recommended actions for Member States

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Introduce transport policies that promote active and safe methods of travelling to and from schools and workplaces, such as walking or cycling;

Ensure that walking, cycling and other forms of physical activity are accessible to and safe for all;

Recommended actions for Member States

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Improve sports, recreation and leisure facilities

Increase the number of safe spaces available for active play

Implement school-based programmes

Develop and implement national guidelines on PA for health

Recommended actions for Member States

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

How much physical activity do we need?New WHO Global Recommendations

• Main aim: providing guidance on dose response relation between frequency, duration, type and total amount of PA needed for prevention of NCD’s

• Three age-groups; 5-17 year olds; 18-64; and 65+

• Main target audience; national and local policy makers

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Children and youth - aged 5-17

at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity daily

> 60 minutes provide additional health benefits

Should:– be mostly aerobic activity– include vigorous intensity activities – include muscle strengthening and bone

health activities at least 3 times per week.

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

PA includes play, games, sports, transportation, recreation, physical

education, or planned exercise, in the context of family, school, and community

activities.

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Promoting physical activity: what works?

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Policy and environmentInterventions targeting the built environment:

– reducing barriers to physical activity, – Supportive transport policies and – policies to increase space for recreational activity.

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Success: Ciclovias, Bogotá, ColombiaA cross between a street party and a marathon, Bogota's Ciclovía managesto combine sport, recreation, health, commerce and culture in one package.

Improvements in public transport at the city level. % persons travelling by car has dropped from 17% to 12% at peak times. 55% of programmes provide economic opportunities (temporary businesses) 63% of programs reported engaging the community (eg:volunteerism) Ciclovia has now extended to more than 38 cities in at least 11 countries in

the Americas.

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Multisectoral approach to implementation

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Look for “win-win-win” options, that help each sector achieving its own goals

Goals Interest

Reduce emissions of:–air pollutants;–greenhouse gases;–noise

EnvironmentHealth

Reduce congestion Transport

Reduce road traffic injuries TransportHealth

Reduce investments in infrastructure to cater for more cars

Transport

Improve accessibility and quality of urban life TransportHealth

Complement technological improvements to vehicles and fuels

Transport

Increase physical activity Health

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

School-based interventions

High-intensity interventions that are comprehensive, multi-component and include:

– curriculum on physical activity taught by trained teachers;– supportive school environment/policies;– a physical activity programme;– a parental/family component;

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

School-based interventionsHigh-intensity interventions that are comprehensive, multi-

component and include:– A focused approach:

• programmes aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour and increasing participation in physical activity, accompanied by supportive activities within the curriculum.

– Formative assessments addressing: • school needs and • cultural contexts

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

WHO is linking with other sectors

2010 update:

Memorandum of Understanding IOC-WHO

" …agree to join efforts and to cooperate…to promote healthy lifestyles, physical activity and

sport for all among the communities."

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Interventions

Multi-component interventions Adapted to the local contextCulturally and environmentally appropriate interventionsUsing existing social structures of a community (e.g. schools,

weekly meetings of older adults)Multistakeholder involvement throughout the processListening, learning and targeting populations needs. Interventions targeting the built environment.

http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/whatworks/

|Pan American Conference on Obesity, with special attention to Childhood Obesity June 2011

Thank you

http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/pa/en/index.html